Plan a beaded bracelet, anklet or necklace without counting on your fingers. Choose the length, describe your pattern repeat with bead and spacer sizes, and get the number of each bead, the repeat count, the real finished length and how many strands to buy.
Last updated:
Units
Piece
in
cm
mm
Clasp, jump rings and crimps when closed.
Pattern repeat (bead sizes in mm)
mm
mm
0 = no accent bead.
mm
Hole-to-hole length of the spacer.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Bead Calculator
Choose the piece or a custom length in inches or centimeters.
Enter the clasp length, or tick stretch for an elastic bracelet.
Describe one pattern repeat: bead sizes in mm and how many of each per repeat.
Read the bead counts, the finished length and how many strands to buy.
Bead count formula
Beaded length = finished length − clasp and findings
Repeat length = sum of (bead size × count) for every bead in one repeat
Repeats = ⌊beaded length ÷ repeat length⌋, then the remaining space is filled with the pattern's first beads
Example: a 7 in (177.8 mm) bracelet with a 12 mm clasp leaves 165.8 mm. A repeat of one 8 mm bead and one 3 mm spacer is 11 mm, so 15 repeats fill 165 mm: 15 main beads and 15 spacers, and the finished bracelet is 177 mm long.
Beads per length (round beads, no spacers)
Bead size
Per inch
7 in bracelet
16 in strand
18 in necklace
24 in necklace
2 mm
12.7
88
203
228
304
3 mm
8.5
59
135
152
203
4 mm
6.4
44
101
114
152
6 mm
4.2
29
67
76
101
8 mm
3.2
22
50
57
76
10 mm
2.5
17
40
45
60
12 mm
2.1
14
33
38
50
Counts are rounded down and do not allow for a clasp. Measure rondelles, heishi and spacers by their thickness along the string, not their diameter.
Beading tips
Lay the design out on a bead board or a towel first; it is easier to swap colors before stringing.
Buy a few extra of each bead: some have blocked holes or small chips.
For stretch bracelets, pre-stretch the elastic and finish with a surgeon's knot hidden inside a bead with a larger hole.
Keep small beads and loose parts away from very young children.
Frequently asked questions
How many beads do I need for a 7 inch bracelet?
A 7 in bracelet is 177.8 mm. Without spacers or a clasp you need about 44 beads of 4 mm, 29 of 6 mm, 22 of 8 mm, 17 of 10 mm or 14 of 12 mm. A clasp takes up about 10–15 mm, so subtract one or two beads for a clasped bracelet.
How do you calculate how many beads you need?
Convert the finished length to millimeters, subtract the clasp, and divide by the bead size (round beads are measured by diameter, which is also the length they take on the string). For a pattern, divide by the length of one repeat, then fill the remainder with the first beads of the pattern.
How many beads are on a 16 inch strand?
A 16 in strand is about 406 mm, so it holds roughly 101 beads of 4 mm, 67 of 6 mm, 50 of 8 mm, 40 of 10 mm or 33 of 12 mm. Actual counts vary a little because beads are not exactly their nominal size.
What are standard necklace lengths?
Common lengths are choker 14–16 in, princess 17–19 in, matinee 20–24 in, opera 28–36 in and rope over 36 in. Bracelets are usually about 7–7.5 in for adults, and anklets 9–11 in.
Why does my beaded bracelet feel smaller than its length?
The string runs through the middle of the beads, so large beads take up space on the inside of the circle. The inside circumference is roughly the length minus π times the bead diameter, so a bracelet of 10 mm beads feels about 31 mm (1.2 in) smaller.
What size are seed beads in mm?
Seed bead sizes are aught numbers: smaller numbers are bigger beads. Approximate diameters are 15/0 ≈ 1.5 mm, 11/0 ≈ 2 mm, 8/0 ≈ 3 mm and 6/0 ≈ 4 mm, and they vary by maker.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.